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Tamil Nadu, West Bengal See Strong Early Voting Turnout in Assembly Polls

Voter turnout in the ongoing assembly elections showed a healthy start, with West Bengal recording 18.76% and Tamil Nadu 17.69% by 9 am. Key political figures, including Chief Minister MK Stalin and actor-politician Vijay, were among the early voters. In Tamil Nadu, the contest is primarily between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, with Vijay's new party as a potential third force. In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is aiming for a fourth consecutive term against a resurgent BJP.

Key Points: Early Voter Turnout in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal Assembly Polls

  • Strong early voter turnout in both states
  • Key leaders including MK Stalin cast votes
  • AIADMK-NDA vs DMK-led alliance in TN
  • Mamata Banerjee seeks fourth term in Bengal
2 min read

Healthy turnout seen at 9 am in assembly polls, Tamil Nadu registers 17.6% turnout while West Bengal sees 18.7%

West Bengal records 18.76% and Tamil Nadu 17.69% turnout by 9 am. Key leaders cast votes as high-stakes elections unfold.

"The poll body is also catering to 14,59,039 first-time voters - Tamil Nadu CEO Archana Patnaik"

New Delhi, April 23

The voter turnout in West Bengal was recorded at 18.76 per cent, while in Tamil Nadu it was recorded at 17.69 per cent at 9 am on Thursday. Tiruppur district recorderd the highest turnout with 20.38% voting while Chennai district registered a turnout of 16.51% and Erode recorded 19.55% turnout.

In West Bengal Paschim Mednipur district recorded a high turnout of 20.51% while Bankura recorded 20.20% and Jhargram registered 19.84% turnout.

Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in West Bengal amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today. The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

Several leaders, including Chief Minister MK Stalin, TVK chief Vijay, DMK minister KN Nehru, along with actors Rajinikanth and Dhurv Vikram, cast their votes this morning.

Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik said that the state's electorate comprises over 5.73 crore voters, featuring 2,93,04,905 female voters, 2,80,30,658 male voters, and 7,728 third-gender voters. The poll body is also catering to 14,59,039 first-time voters and 68,501 service voters, with 4,18,541 postal votes already received. Furthermore, 62 counting centres have already been established to ensure a smooth process after the high-stakes voting concludes.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

With the DMK banking on its Dravidian 2.0 model, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.

In West Bengal, the parties are contesting against one another for 294 Assembly seats. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), the first phase covers 152 Assembly constituencies, while the second phase includes 142 seats. There are a total of 1,478 candidates in the fray in this phase.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is aiming for a fourth consecutive term, while the BJP, which secured 77 seats in the previous election, is making a renewed push to form the government in the state.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Interesting to see Tiruppur leading in TN. It's a major industrial hub. The voter turnout there often reflects the mood of the business community. The Dravidian 2.0 model vs NDA comeback will be a fascinating watch.
A
Arjun K
Respectfully, while the turnout is okay, I wish the article gave more context. Is this 17-18% figure higher or lower than previous elections at the same time? Without that comparison, it's just a number.
S
Sarah B
The inclusion of over 7,700 third-gender voters and 14 lakh+ first-time voters in Tamil Nadu's data is a very positive step towards inclusive democracy. Hope they all exercise their right.
V
Vikram M
Bengal's numbers look slightly better. Paschim Medinipur always has high participation. The fight for Didi's fourth term vs BJP's push will be the main story. Tight security is essential there.
K
Kavya N
Actor Vijay's debut adds a new twist in Tamil Nadu! TVK could be a game-changer, especially for youth voters. But let's see if star power translates to votes on the ground. Exciting day for both states!

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